U.S. set to give nonlethal assistance to Syrian rebels

ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 28, 2013 12:24 AM

This photo taken Feb. 27, 2013 shows Secretary of State John Kerry arriving at the Foreign Ministry in Paris. The U.S. is moving closer to direct involvement in Syria's civil war with the delivery of non-lethal assistance directly to the rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. Officials say the decision to offer ready-made meals and medical supplies to the rebels may be a step toward eventual U.S. military aid, which the administration has so far resisted. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)AP POOL

ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 28, 2013 12:24 AM

Al-Maliki's warning

Iraq's prime minister warned Wednesday that a victory for rebels in the Syrian civil war would create an extremist haven and destabilize the Middle East."If the world does not agree to support a peaceful solution through dialogue ... then I see no light at the end of the tunnel," said Nouri al-Maliki, stopping short of voicing support for Syrian President Bashar Assad. "Neither the opposition nor the regime can finish each other off," he said. "The most dangerous thing in this process is that if the opposition is victorious, there will be a civil war in Lebanon, divisions in Jordan and a sectarian war in Iraq."

SOURCE: Associated Press

ROME -- The United States and some European allies are edging closer to direct involvement in Syria's civil war with plans to deliver meals, medical kits and other forms of nonlethal assistance to the rebels battling President Bashar Assad.

The U.S., Britain, France and Italy aren't planning to supply the Free Syrian Army with weapons or ammunition. But moves are afoot to significantly boost the size and scope of their aid to the political and military opposition. Such decisions could be announced as early as today at an international conference on Syria in Rome.

Britain and France are keen to give the rebels the means to protect themselves from attacks by Assad's forces, including Scud missiles fired in recent days against the city of Aleppo, U.S. and European officials say.

Assistance could mean combat armor, vehicles and other equipment not deemed to be offensive, the officials said. It could include training in battlefield medical care and the protection of human rights, they said.

For now, the Obama administration is advancing more modestly. It is nearing a decision whether to give ready-made meals and medical supplies to the opposition fighters, who have not received direct U.S. assistance.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was expected to announce the new contributions at the Rome conference, in addition to tens of millions of dollars intended for rule of law and governance programs.

The shifts in strategy are part of a step-by-step process that could lead to direct military aid to carefully screened members of the Free Syrian Army if the nearly two-year conflict continues. About 70,000 people have died in the fighting.

The European Union last week renewed an arms embargo against Syria for three months. But foreign ministers made clear that the decision could be reviewed while they look at ways to increase pressure on Assad to leave.